Part of our Where to Spend Your Money guide.
I get asked some version of “what HF radio should I buy” constantly, and the honest answer depends heavily on budget. Under $1,000 is a real, well-served category with genuinely capable radios, not just compromises. I own three of the radios I am about to talk about, so this is not theoretical for me.
The Xiegu G90: Best for True Portable Budget HF
The G90 runs new for well under $500 and gives you 20 watts, a built-in antenna tuner, and a genuinely usable waterfall display in a small, field-friendly package. It is not going to compete with a full-featured base radio on receiver performance, but for POTA activations, manpack builds, or a first HF radio where you want to keep cash free for antennas and accessories, it punches well above its price. I have written extensively about running mine and it remains one of the best dollar-for-dollar entry points into HF I know of.
The Yaesu FT-891: Best for a Do-Everything Radio at 100 Watts
The FT-891 sits right around the $1,000 mark and gives you full 100 watt output in a compact, radio-head-optional form factor that works equally well bolted into a Jeep, sitting on a shack desk, or riding in a manpack. It lacks a built-in tuner and a screen much bigger than a postage stamp, but the receiver and transmit audio are genuinely solid, and it is one of the most flexible single radios I own precisely because it does mobile, portable, and base duty equally well without complaint.
A Used Original IC-7300: Best for Base Station Features on a Budget
Since the Mark II launched, used prices on the original IC-7300 have softened enough that a clean used unit can often be had for well under $1,000. You get Icom’s excellent SDR receiver, a real touchscreen spectrum scope, and a built-in tuner, all in a radio that remains fully competent for base station and even portable use. If you want the base-station experience without base-station pricing, this is where I would point a budget-conscious buyer, provided you are comfortable buying used and checking a radio over before you hand over cash.
What I Would Actually Buy
If portability and weight are the priority, the G90. If you want one radio that genuinely does base, mobile, and portable duty without an internal tuner being a dealbreaker, the FT-891. If your main use case is a home shack and you want the most base-station capability per dollar, a used original IC-7300. All three are radios I would put in front of a new ham without hesitation, and the right pick really does come down to where and how you plan to operate rather than which radio is objectively best.
What I Would Skip at This Price Point
Be cautious of ultra-budget HF transceivers from lesser-known brands that promise full-featured operation at rock-bottom prices. Some are fine. Many have thin documentation, poor firmware support, and resale value that evaporates the moment you try to sell. I would rather see a new ham buy used from an established manufacturer than new from a brand with no track record.